The Trump admin plans to officially launch a new panel on human rights as early as Monday. Democrats fear its focus on “natural law and natural rights” may undercut protections for women and LGBTQ people around the world
The Trump administration plans to officially launch a new panel on human rights as early as Monday — one already under scrutiny from Democrats who fear its stated focus on “natural law and natural rights” could undercut protections for women and LGBTQ people around the world.
A State Department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials say the panel is advisory and will not create policy, and maintain that everyone has “unalienable rights,“ including LGBTQ people and other minorities. The State Department has been relatively vague about the panel‘s functions, insisting it will decide how to define terms like "natural law and natural rights." Activists and lawmakers have been alarmed by that language, because both terms have been used in a variety of ways — from core foundations of modern philosophy to arguments used by some religious opponents of same-sex marriage.
Supporters of the Trump administration’s new panel say they hope it will reclaim the concept of human rights from groups that have taken it too far. The secretary of State chooses the panel's members, whom the draft charter says should have “distinguished backgrounds in U.S. diplomacy, international law and human rights.” The panel is supposed to be bipartisan, according to the draft charter, and its members do not appear to need Senate confirmation.
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